Business Briefs
Star-Bulletin staff
and wire services
|
HAWAII
Superferry raises rates to $59
The
Hawaii Superferry said yesterday it is raising its one-way passenger fare to $59 from the current summer promotional rate of $49 each way. The promotional fare is for bookings before Aug. 5 for travel through Sept. 30.
The new fare applies to travel starting Aug. 5 and running through Oct. 31, and does not include applicable taxes and fees. The rates are subject to approval by the state Public Utilities Commission.
One-way vehicle fares will remain at $65. One-way fares for travelers ages 62 and older, children 2-12 years old, and retired and active military personnel and their dependents will remain at $49.
High-impact firms key to isles
High-impact firms, or those whose sales have at least doubled during a four-year period and have strong employment growth, are key in creating Hawaii's jobs and economic growth, according to a study released yesterday by the U.S. Small Business Administration's Office of Advocacy. Of the 376,604 high-impact firms nationwide, 1,410 are in Hawaii, representing 2.31 percent of isle companies. These firms are on average around 25 years old and come in all size classes.
Isle resorts get top rankings
Elite Traveler, a private jet lifestyle magazine, said yesterday two Hawaii resorts have made its "101 Top Hotel/Resort Suites of the Year."
The Grand Wailea Resort and Spa's Grand Suite in Maui and Four Seasons Resort-Hualalai's Presidential Villa in Kailua-Kona both made the list. The hotels cost $15,000 and $10,300 a night, respectively.
Hawaii named in travel survey
Luxury travel magazine
Virtuoso Life has named Hawaii as the top perfect places for a family vacation in its second-annual luxury travel dreams survey.
In other categories Hawaii also came in fourth as the best place to fall in love, behind Paris, Venice and Santorini, Greece. It also ranked second in the "best island escapes" category, behind the Greek Isles. The survey was based on responses from 12,300 magazine readers.
Honolulu 15th hottest biz city
Honolulu is the 15th hottest large city in which to do business, according to a survey released yesterday by Inc.com, the online arm of
Inc. magazine. Honolulu dropped seven spots from last year in the ranking of 30 large cities in the U.S., determined primarily by employment. Raleigh-Cary, N.C., ranked first.
Honolulu ranked 80th on the overall list out of 335 metro areas in the U.S., a drop of 38 spots from last year. Midland, Texas, ranked first.
Hawaii in top solar rankings
Hawaii utilities were top-ranked for their solar power integration in 2007, a first-annual report by the Solar Electric Power Association released yesterday shows.
The Kauai Island Utility Cooperative ranks second for its solar electric capacity per customer, while Maui Electric Co. ranks seventh.
The rankings are based on information provided through a survey of utilities and independent research.
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Above, Ford Explorers and Sport Trac SUVs rolled off the assembly line yesterday at the Louisville Assembly Plant in Louisville, Ky. U.S. Ford plants will be producing product lines through 2010.
|
|
NATION
Mortgages see rate increases
WASHINGTON » Freddie Mac said yesterday that its nationwide survey showed rates on 30-year mortgages surged to 6.63 percent this week, up sharply from 6.26 percent last week. Rates on 15-year fixed-rate mortgages rose to 6.18 percent, up from 5.78 percent last week. Rates on one-year ARMs jumped to 5.49 percent, compared to 5.10 percent last week.
New hires / Promotions
» CB Richard Ellis has announced the following new hires:
* Mike Pida as a real estate services administrator in asset services. He was previously a business analyst for the University of Hawaii at Manoa's Pacific Business Center Program and a senior research analyst for CoStar Group.
* Franz "Robi" Solmssen Jr. as an associate in industrial brokerage services. He has eight years of leasing and sales experience from Sofos Realty Corp.
* Theresa Coelho as a client services coordinator in brokerage services at the Maui office. She was previously an events coordinator for the Maui Arts & Cultural Center and a marketing assistant and events coordinator at General Growth Properties' Queen Kaahumanu Center.
» Aloha United Way has announced the following new hires:
* Niela Fernandez as information and referral specialist for the organization's 211 service. Her 10 years of call center experience includes Verizon Hawaii.
* Maura Grey as a receptionist. Her previous jobs include working at Chaminade University and ResortQuest Hawaii.
» Bank of Hawaii has announced the following new appointments:
* Meleen L. Pang Corenevsky as vice president and senior trust officer of the Bank of Hawaii Foundation administration department. She has 23 years of service at the bank.
* William C.A. "Billy" Pieper II as vice president and wealth management consultant in the bank's trust and private banking sales department. His previous jobs include president and owner of Asset Enhancement Group and manager/branch officer supervisor and financial planner at Beneficial Financial Group in Kailua.
Board elections
» The Hawaii Society of Certified Public Accountants has elected its directors and officers for 2008-2009:
Melanie King, president;
Wendell Lee, president elect; and
Jason Yoshimi and
Warren Wee, secretary-treasurer. Board members include
Catha Combs,
Brenda Cutwright,
Terri Fujii,
Ronald Heller,
Patrick Ing, Clifford Isara,
Lorie Ishii,
Ralph Kanetoku,
Gary Kuba,
Jodi Lam, Chris Mashiba,
Ross Murakami,
Patrick Oki,
Edward Punua, Valerie Shintaku,
Craig Watanabe and
Carl Williams.
» The Association of Certified Fraud Examiners Hawaii chapter has elected its board of directors: Jeffrey Norton, president; Margie Sasaki, vice president/secretary; Natalie Iwasa, treasurer; Neva Keras, director; and Trinh Wilbur, director.
Awards/Certifications
» Allstate Insurance Co. has honored Honolulu Allstate agent
Ivan Muraoka for his 40 years of service with the company. The Allstate Milestone Achievement program recognizes agents for their contributions and service of five years or more.
BUSINESS PULSE